When looking clinically and in a balanced way at drinking water filters, considering costs, replacement intervals, filter capability, filter recycling and the filter’s effect on our carbon footprint, how many drinking water filters would make the cut?

And importantly, do any water filters tick all the boxes and stand out as a best of breed product?

Are you a couple who understands the benefits of living green? Perhaps you started out by separating and recycling your rubbish. Then you read about solar water heaters and installed one into your home. Perhaps you’ve even gone as far as installing rainwater catchments and photo-voltaic solar panels.

But the question is this: What will you do when the time comes to move out? How will you find a home that someone else has invested in as much as you have in your current home?

The sad truth is that converting your home into a green home is often over-capitalizing on your property (depending on the area in which you live). Not many buyers will appreciate your green features enough to give you a return on investment.…

Within the home, dealing with the change in seasons usually involves dusting, washing, storage and hauling items out of cupboards every 6 months or so. Green homes are kept at an even temperature all year round, by means of insulation.

A window or glass door made of 2 separate plates of glass makes up a double-glazing system. An air cavity traps air between the glass layers – and these air cavities actually insulate the home, keeping us comfortable.

Double-glazing helps retain warm air during winter and cold air during summer – this helps save money in the long run.

Through a combination of insulation materials and techniques, a well-insulated home means that utility costs are reduced by more than half. …

Heat pumps are designed to work off air temperature. They use a minimal amount of electricity and work like air-conditioners in reverse.

The heat pump is usually mounted outside the house where it comes into contact with free-flowing air. Hot air is drawn into the heat pump, where it then passes over a refrigerant. The refrigerant boils and evaporates, heating up a condenser coil which heats water in the tank – and warm water then flows to the taps.

Dual function heat pumps heats water, cools water down, or heats and cools water at the same time. This leads to twice as much efficiency.

And while it isn’t convenient to climb into the ceiling to turn down the thermostat, in a smart green home, the adjustment is easily made on a smartphone/computer.…

“A circular economy is one that builds economic, natural and social capital” (petco.co.za).

Plastic bottles are valuable and aren’t actually waste. In modern times, packaging is necessary to get the product to the consumer, but once it has served its purpose, packaging is considered dirty and unwanted.

As an example of how recycled plastic is used, Isotherm is an insulating material that’s made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.

Traditional homes usually have ceiling insulation that’s made from fibre glass or asbestos, which isn’t environmentally friendly at all. Isotherm is an eco-friendly and effective alternative.

Isotherm is dust and water resistant, non-toxic, without associated health risks, non-flammable and lasts longer than most other insulating materials.

Instant hot water access from every tap is possible with a clever plumbing system. A heat pump also uses little electricity, and helps to reduce our carbon footprint.

Geysers use a great deal of energy because they continually have to heat up water and much of this hot water ends up not being used. Maintaining the heat in the water is a method which is used in green homes. Pipe insulation is made use of, as well as insulating the tank where the hot water is stored.

A linked-loop plumbing system is also used, and is insulated. Therefore, hot water is always available throughout the home. When opening the tap, there is no wastage as it comes out hot.

In this way, water and electricity are saved, without compromising on luxury living.…

Using harvested rainwater can make a major dent in the water bill. And when using insulation features, electricity usage is reduced to a large extent.

Hot water insulation reduces geyser/heat-pump costs. And room insulation maintains the room temperature. A radiant heating and cooling system throughout the floor of the home makes temperature control cheap.

All these savings result in a reduction in living costs and eventually, a great return on investment. Within about ten years or less, the extra amount that we paid for the green home is retrieved with these savings. We also gain a profit when we sell such a home.

To add to this, green homes have a low impact on the environment, making them even more valuable.…

Harvesting rainwater achieves many green living principles. We’re saving potable water which is a valuable resource. And we’re reducing our carbon footprint.

Harvested rainwater is used for garden irrigation, flushing the toilets and for the washing machine.

By installing a smart device app, or navigating to the monitoring website of the smart home, green features are easily monitored and can be adjusted where applicable.

These metrics can be monitored:

Rainwater tank level.

Rainwater usage.

Rainwater harvesting reduces utility water usage by up to 60%, thereby saving water utility costs.

When establishing an indigenous garden, installing a rainwater sensor, and being able to measure rainwater usage, the irrigation cycles can be adjusted to closely align the rainfall with the water required by the garden, thereby using the harvested rainwater most efficiently, maximising savings and tending to a lovely garden at the same time.…